〃And　likely　to　be　your　last；〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　sneeringly。　　〃For　I　am　stronger　than　you；　and　I　have　fought　many　times　with　full　grown　men。〃
  〃Are　you　ready？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel；　for　answer。
  〃Yes。〃
  Then　the　swords　clashed　and　sparks　flew　from　the　blades。　　But　it　was　not　for　long。　　Suddenly　Nerle's　sword　went　flying　through　the　air　and　shattered　its　blade　against　a　wall　of　rock。　　He　scowled　at　Prince　Marvel　a　moment；　who　smiled　back　at　him。　　Then　the　boy　rushed　into　the　cave　and　returned　with　another　sword。
  Scarcely　had　the　weapons　crossed　again　when　with　a　sudden　blow　Prince　Marvel　snapped　Nerle's　blade　in　two；　and　followed　this　up　with　a　sharp　slap　upon　his　ear　with　the　flat　of　his　own　sword　that　fairly　bewildered　the　boy；　and　made　him　sit　down　on　the　grass　to　think　what　had　happened　to　him。
  Then　Prince　Marvel's　merry　laugh　rang　far　across　the　hills；　and　so　delighted　was　he　at　the　astonished　expression　upon　Nerle's　face　that　it　was　many　minutes　before　he　could　control　his　merriment　and　ask　his　foeman　if　he　had　had　enough　fight。
  〃I　suppose　I　have；〃　replied　the　boy；　rubbing　his　ear　tenderly。　　〃That　blow　stings　most　deliciously。　　But　it　is　a　hard　thought　that　the　son　of　Baron　Neggar　should　serve　Prince　Marvel！〃
  〃Do　not　worry　about　that；〃　said　the　prince；　〃for　I　assure　you　my　rank　is　so　far　above　your　own　that　it　is　no　degradation　for　the　son　of　Neggar　to　serve　me。　　But　come；　we　must　dispose　of　these　thieves。　　What　is　the　proper　fate　for　such　men？〃
  〃They　are　always　hanged；〃　answered　Nerle；　getting　upon　his　feet。
  〃Well；　there　are　trees　handy；〃　remarked　the　prince；　although　his　girlish　heart　insisted　on　making　him　shiver　in　spite　of　his　resolve　to　be　manly　and　stern。　　〃Let　us　get　to　work　and　hang　them　as　soon　as　possible。　　And　then　we　can　proceed　upon　our　journey。〃
  Nerle　now　willingly　lent　his　assistance　to　his　new　master；　and　soon　they　had　placed　a　rope　around　the　neck　of　each　thief　and　were　ready　to　dangle　them　all　from　the　limbs　of　the　trees。
  But　at　this　juncture　the　thieves　began　to　regain　consciousness；　and　now　Wul…Takim；　the　big；　red…bearded　king　of　the　thieves；　sat　up　and　asked：
  〃Who　is　our　conqueror？〃
  〃Prince　Marvel；〃　answered　Nerle。
  〃And　what　army　assisted　him？〃　inquired　Wul…Takim；　curiously　gazing　upon　the　prince。
  〃He　conquered　you　alone　and　single…handed；〃　said　Nerle。
  Hearing　this；　the　big　king　began　to　weep　bitterly；　and　the　tear…drops　ran　down　his　face　in　such　a　stream　that　Prince　Marvel　ordered　Nerle　to　wipe　them　away　with　his　handkerchief；　as　the　thief's　hands　were　tied　behind　his　back。
  〃To　think！〃　sobbed　Wul…Takim；　miserably；　〃only　to　think；　that　after　all　my　terrible　deeds　and　untold　wickedness；　I　have　been　captured　by　a　mere　boy！　　Oh；　boo…hoo！　boo…hoo！　boo…hoo！　　It　is　a　terrible　disgrace！〃
  〃You　will　not　have　to　bear　it　long；〃　said　the　prince；　soothingly。　　〃I　am　going　to　hang　you　in　a　few　minutes。〃
  〃Thanks！　　Thank　you　very　much！〃　answered　the　king；　ceasing　to　weep。　〃I　have　always　expected　to　be　hanged　some　day；　and　I　am　glad　no　one　but　you　two　boys　will　witness　me　when　my　feet　begin　kicking　about。〃
  〃I　shall　not　kick；〃　declared　another　of　the　thieves；　who　had　also　regained　his　senses。　　〃I　shall　sing　while　I　am　being　hanged。〃
  〃But　you　can　not；　my　good　Gunder；〃　protested　the　king；　〃for　the　rope　will　cut　off　your　breath；　and　no　man　can　sing　without　breath。〃
  〃Then　I　shall　whistle；〃　said　Gunder；　composedly。
  The　king　cast　at　him　a　look　of　reproach；　and　turning　to　Prince　Marvel　he　said：
  〃It　will　be　a　great　task　to　string　up　so　many　thieves。　　You　look　tired。　　Permit　me　to　assist　you　to　hang　the　others；　and　then　I　will　climb　into　a　tree　and　hang　myself　from　a　strong　branch；　with　as　little　bother　as　possible。〃
  〃Oh；　I　won't　think　of　troubling　you；〃　exclaimed　Marvel；　with　a　laugh。　〃Having　conquered　you　alone；　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　hang　you　without　assistancesave　that　of　my　esquire。〃
  〃It's　no　trouble；　I　assure　you；　but　suit　your　own　convenience；〃　said　the　thief；　carelessly。　　Then　he　cast　his　eye　toward　the　cave　and　asked：　〃What　will　you　do　with　all　our　treasure？〃
  〃Give　it　to　the　poor；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　promptly。
  〃What　poor？〃
  〃Oh；　the　poorest　people　I　can　find。〃
  〃Will　you　permit　me　to　advise　you　in　this　matter？〃　asked　the　king　of　thieves；　politely。
  〃Yes；　indeed；　for　I　am　a　stranger　in　this　land；〃　returned　the　prince。
  〃Well；　I　know　a　lot　of　people　who　are　so　poor　that　they　have　no　possessions　whatever；　neither　food　to　eat；　houses　to　live　in；　nor　any　clothing　but　that　which　covers　their　bodies。　　They　can　call　no　man　friend；　nor　will　any　lift　a　hand　to　help　them。　　Indeed；　good　sir；　I　verily　believe　they　will　soon　perish　miserably　unless　you　come　to　their　assistance！〃
  〃Poor　creatures！〃　exclaimed　Prince　Marvel；　with　ready　sympathy；　〃tell　me　who　they　are；　and　I　will　divide　amongst　them　all　your　ill…gotten　gains。〃
  〃They　are　ourselves；〃　replied　the　king　of　thieves；　with　a　sigh。
  Marvel　looked　at　him　in　amazement；　and　then　burst　into　joyous　laughter。
  〃Yourselves！〃　he　cried；　greatly　amused。
  〃Indeed；　yes！〃　said　Wul…Takim；　sadly。　　〃There　are　no　poorer　people　in　all　the　world；　for　we　have　ropes　about　our　necks　and　are　soon　to　be　hanged。　　To…morrow　we　shall　not　have　even　our　flesh　left；　for　the　crows　will　pick　our　bones。〃
  〃That　is　true；〃　remarked　Marvel；　thoughtfully。　　〃But；　if　I　restore　to　you　the　treasure；　how　will　it　benefit　you；　since　you　are　about　to　die？〃
  〃Must　you　really　hang　us？〃　asked　the　thief。
  〃Yes；　I　have　decreed　it；　and　you　deserve　your　fate。〃
  〃Why？〃
  〃Because　you　have　wickedly　taken　from　helpless　people　their　property；　and　committed　many　other　crimes　besides。〃
  〃But　I　have　reformed！　　We　have　all　reformedhave　we　not；　brothers？〃
  〃We　have！〃　answered　the　other　thieves；　who；　having　regained　their　senses；　were　listening　to　this　conversation　with　much　interest。
  〃And；　if　you　will　return　to　us　our　treasure；　we　will　promise　never　to　steal　again；　but　to　remain　honest　men　and　enjoy　our　wealth　in　peace；〃　promised　the　king。
  〃Honest　men　could　not　enjoy　treasures　they　have　stolen；〃　said　Prince　Marvel。
  〃True；　but　this　treasure　is　now　yours；　having　been　won　by　you　in　fair　battle。　　And　if　you　present　it　to　us　it　will　no　longer　be　stolen　treasure；　but　a　generous　gift　from　a　mighty　prince；　which　we　may　enjoy　with　clear　consciences。〃
  〃Yet　there　remains　the　fact　that　I　have　promised　to　hang　you；〃　suggested　Prince　Marvel；　with　a　smile；　for　the　king　amused　him　greatly。
  〃Not　at　all！　　Not　at　all！〃　cried　Wul…Takim。　　〃You　promised　to　hang　fifty…nine　thieves；　and　there　is　no　doubt　the　fifty…nine　thieves　deserved　to　be　hung。　　But；　consider！　　We　have　all　reformed　our　ways　and　become　honest　men；　so　it　would　be　a　sad　and　unkindly　act　to　hang　fifty…nine　honest　men！〃
  〃What　think　you；　Nerle？〃　asked　the　Prince；　turning　to　his　esquire。
  〃Why；　the　rogue　seems　to　speak　truth；〃　said　Nerle；　scratching　his　head　with　a　puzzled　air；　〃yet；　if　he　speaks　truth；　there　is　little　difference　between　a　rogue　and　an　honest　man。　　Ask　him；　my　master；　what　caused　them　all　to　reform　so　suddenly。〃
  〃Because　we　were　about　to　die；　and　we　thought　it　a　good　way　to　save　our　lives；〃　replied　the　robber　king。
  〃That's　an　honest　answer；　anyway；〃　said　Nerle。　　〃Perhaps；　sir；　they　have　really　reformed。〃
  〃And　if　so；　I　will　not　have　the　death　of　fifty…nine　honest　men　on　my　conscience；〃　declared　the　prince。　　Then　he　turned　to　Wul…Takim　and　added：　〃I　will　release　you　and　give　you　the　treasure；　as　you　request。　But　you　owe　me　allegiance　from　this　time　forth；　and　if　I　ever　hear　of　your　becoming　thieves　again；　I　promise　to　return　and　hang　every　one　of　you。〃
  〃Never　fear！〃　answered　Wul…Takim；　joyfully。　　〃It　is　hard　work　to　steal；　and　while　we　have　so　much　treasure　it　is　wholly　unnecessary。　Moreover；　having　accepted　from　you　our　lives　and　our　fortunes；　we　shall　hereafter　be　your　devoted　servants；　and　whenever　you　need　our　services　you　have　but　to　call　upon　us；　and　we　will　support　you　loyally　and　gladly。〃
  〃I　accept　your　service；〃　answered　the　prince；　graciously。
  And　then　he　unbound　the　fifty…nine　honest　men　and　took　the　ropes　from　their　necks。　　As　nightfall　was　fast　approaching　the　new　servants　set　to　work　to　prepare　a　great　feast　in　honor　of　their　master。　　It　was　laid　in　the　middle　of　the　grassy　clearing；　that　all　might　sit　around　and　celebrate　the　joyous　occasion。
  〃Do　you　think　you　can　trust　these　men？〃　asked　Nerle；　suspiciously。
  〃Why　not？〃　replied　the　prince。　　〃They　have　been　exceedingly　wicked；　it　is　true；　but　they　are　now　intent　upon　being　exceedingly　good。　　Let　us　encourage　them　in　this。　　If　we　mistrusted　all　who　have　ever　done　an　evil　act　there　would　be　fewer　honest　people　in　the　world。　　And　if　it　were　as　interesting　to　do　a　good　act　as　an　evil　one　there　is　no　doubt　every　one　would　choose　the　good。〃
  6。　　The　Troubles　of　Nerle
  That　night　Prince　Marvel　slept　within　the　cave；　surrounded　by　the　fifty…nine　reformed　thieves；　and　suffered　no　harm　at　their　hands。　　In　the　morning；　accompanied　by　his　esquire；　Nerle；　who　was　mounted　upon　a　spirited　horse　brought　him　by　Wul…Takim；　he　charged　the　honest　men　to　remember　their　promises；　bade　them　good　by；　and　set　out　in　search　of　further　adventure。
  As　they　left　the　clearing　by　the　narrow　passage